On 29th April, 2008, LEAP held a conference where businesses, policy makers and practitioners were invited to contribute to what has become one of the most important strands of skills agenda, employability.

The event was sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers and held at their central London offices and focused on how the development of soft skills is increasingly key to enhancing employability, to employers’ satisfaction.  The importance of this was reinforced by excellent contributions from major employers: Moira Elms - UK Board Member, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Jo Robbins - Group HR Director, VT Group Plc, and Valerie Todd - Managing Director, Transport for London Group Services, who is also a commissioner of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

The keynote speaker at the event, the Rt Hon. David Lammy MP, Minister for Skills, began by thanking LEAP for “two decades of work to support young people who are disadvantaged and socially excluded.”  Mr Lammy added; “Government values the work of LEAP and other professional partners that develop ‘soft skills’ because we are concerned with the broader welfare of young people, not just their academic attainment.” 

Tunde Banjoko responded: “There are too many job vacancies that could be filled by unemployed people in this country that remain vacant.  When you ask employers why this is, they will tell you that many jobless people lack the soft skills required. If this was addressed, employers could train people on the job-specific skills necessary.  The connection must be made between training being provided via Government funding and what employers really want from their employees.  All training aimed at preparing people for the labour market, should contain an attitudinal and motivational element.  Only candidates who recognise the importance of things like punctuality and responsibility should be sent to employers”.

The event  was a resounding success and also saw the launch of LEAP’s new short attitudinal and motivational programme, EMPOWERED, which has been designed to be ancillary to hard skills provision currently offered by training providers and educational establishments.

For further information contact Eugene Blavo on 020 8962 1900 or email him at eugene@leap.org.uk